Wood Wednesday: Shoe Shine Kit

Superbowl Sunday was also my husband’s birthday. I knew that a group from church would be getting together so I asked for suggestions on what to give Brad. It had to be something that I could make from my assortment of stuff. You know, you all have it too…the left overs, the curbside finds, the “gifts” from friends.
Some suggested that we all bring gag gifts because Brad it always joking. Then Bruce suggested that I make Brad a shoe shine kit. Now Brad is not really “into” shining his shoes, but I knew I could make a box. Also our son mentioned recently that he would like a shoe shine kit, so this would be a prototype.  Then the group all decided that they would bring things to fill the box all wrapped up for Brad to open at the party.
Brad is a big man with big shoes. I could not just make the standard shoe shine kit like the one Bruce has.
I wanted it big enough to hold stuff and big enough for his foot. I looked around to garage but nothing spoke to me. Then I remembered the trash run last week. There were 3 drawers.
See them behind the t-ball stand. I know, quality pictures are important, but I didn’t take another before picture and the other 2 drawers went to storage today. You get the picture. They are big drawers or big boxes. So I made a new front and a lid. I traced his shoe, cut it out of a board from a piece of a headboard and made a little stand for the “shoe”.
There is also some shoe history in my family. My maternal grandfather was a shoe repairman, or cobbler, in Tyler, Tx. In our house in Bridge City I had a picture of him in his shop. It got destroyed in the hurricane, but I saved the frame. I had put a piece on a belt he had made my mother on that frame.  Just to dress up Brad’s box a little, I put the frame on the lid.
Now for the really funny part. I put the finished kit in an old cardboard box and put it in the back of the car. I knew Brad would not notice because of all the other stuff in the car. We packed up our snacks and went to the party. At one point in the game, we paused the TV, sang Happy Birthday, ate cake and Brad opened presents. There was shoe polish and a shoe rag and  saddle soap and shoe laces. Brad could not figure out what was going on. “Does everyone think I have dirty shoes?” When he had opened all of their gifts and read the funny cards, I gave him my gift. Then it all became clear. Well here it is:
 
It turned out really cute. Our grandson will have a great time with it this weekend.

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